Brazilian President: G20 Rio Summit 'Will Be Highly Productive'

The 19th G20 Leaders' Summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from November 18 to 19, 2024. The G20 Leaders' Summit serves as a key forum for discussing international economic cooperation and offers an effective platform for dialogue between the Global South and the Global North. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated, "This will be a highly productive summit." 

According to Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 55 heads of state, government leaders, and international organization representatives are set to attend, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Joe Biden, and host President Lula. This level of participation underscores the continued relevance of the G20 as a significant multilateral dialogue platform, even amid questions about its ability to address the world's most pressing and complex challenges.  

The summit's theme, "Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet" reflects its ambitious agenda. Brazil's Foreign Ministry announced that the opening ceremony will feature the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, a Brazilian initiative designed to rally G20 nations and international organizations in a united effort to eradicate hunger and poverty by 2030.  

The summit will be held at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, an iconic example of Brazilian modernist architecture designed by Alfonso Eduardo Reidy. Against this architectural backdrop, attendees will experience the lush greenery of the Burle Marx Gardens, the azure waters of Guanabara Bay, and the majestic view of Sugarloaf Mountain—offering a harmonious blend of art and nature.  

It is not hard to imagine that the light of Guanabara Bay will inspire G20 leaders, fostering a spirit of cooperation to dispel the shadows of uncertainty on the global stage. Without overcoming the war-driven ideologies that threaten world peace, achieving lofty human aspirations—such as building a just world, creating a sustainable planet, and eradicating hunger—will become increasingly difficult.